Does anyone know of a way to get a refund (credit) for a rate decrease. I booked our cruise in Oct. and paid 719.00 per person for interior, just checked and the rate has dropped to 629.00 per person. Thats 180.00 per room for 2 rooms........ ughhh I called my carnival planner and he said couldn't do anything. Is there something I could do to get the lower price?

Yes I just did this for another cruise in Decemeber. On the web site for Carnival they have a form you can fill out. Something called Best Rate Guarantee or something like that. You fill it out, listing where the better rate was found. If you have already paid for the cruise, they will add the difference to your on board credit.

First, this is a good reason to never book directly with the cruise line. They represent themselves, not you. You should always book with an agent, because they represent you and will do whatever they can to support you. They also have contacts and tricks not available to you.

Now, with all that said, since the final payment date on your cruise has past, Carnival will not allow you to change your pricing. They established these new policies about 2 years ago. The only time you would be allowed to change it is if you booked it under the Early Saver Fare.

However, even though they cannot get you a cash refund, occasionally your agent can get you onboard credit or an upgrade on your cabin. This is where it also pays to have a good agent because if you ask Carnival to do this for you, unless you're a past guest with alot of cruises, they're going to tell you there's nothing they can do for you.

So, unfortunately, what your PVP at Carnival told you is the truth - there's nothing they will do for you.

But, what I suggest you do is call Carnival, ask to speak to a supervisor, and then ask them if they can at least get you an upgrade. There are still plenty of cabins available on that sailing and it doesn't cost them anything to provide you an upgrade. It's not much, but it beats a sharp stick in the eye.

Yes I just did this for another cruise in Decemeber. On the web site for Carnival they have a form you can fill out. Something called Best Rate Guarantee or something like that. You fill it out, listing where the better rate was found. If you have already paid for the cruise, they will add the difference to your on board credit.

This only works if you book the Early Saver Fare - this is not available for everyone and not available for every situation.

HI, I book thru my PVP all the time and know the drill way too well. If your rate has dropped and you are past final payment... pretend to book and see what category now matches what you paid.

I just call up my booking agent or the toll free number and they change me. I think it helps if you already know your facts and what you want when you call.

I dont think it would make any different who you booked with since unless you booked early saver rate, you cant get the price difference once you are past final payment. I have never had trouble getting a nice upgrade though.. but do look at the prices and the deck plans and figure out where you want to be and ask for that cabin.

I am assuming you did not book Early Saver rate, or they would have not told you that you cant get the price drop. .. but you can upgrade.

This only works if you book the Early Saver Fare - this is not available for everyone and not available for every situation.

Pete

I am guessing what you meant was its not always available if you dont book early enough. I have yet to see a cruise that did not offer ES rate if you book early enough. The rate dissapears 5 months before on 7 day cruises, and 3 months before on shorter cruises.. but is capacity controlled so a particular category can sell out earlier.

Thanks everyone for your reply's... I don't know if I got the ES rate, I do know it's past guest. The Carnival web site is where I found the lower price. I like booking thru the lines, because I know sometimes (we did it Last January) we had booked thru an agent, and some friends of ours booked with the line and they got onboard credit and a free excursion which we didn't get and our agent said she couldn't get those for us. I'd take the upgrade, but we have 3 rooms close together and from the looks of it the upgrade would be to a different deck. We are on 8 upgrade would be to 9. I told them just give me half, and I'll pay the difference for a balcony. There were 3 close by to our group. They wouldn't even do that. If the ship were full, I could understand it, but there are lots of rooms left, ofcourse that's from my perspective. I'll just have to keep trying... we have a month before sailing.

we had booked thru an agent, and some friends of ours booked with the line and they got onboard credit and a free excursion which we didn't get and our agent said she couldn't get those for us.

Find another agent! Any time the cruise line offers something like that, the agent can get it for you. This is why it pays to find a Cruise Specialist as many travel agents are not trained in cruises.

I once met an agent onboard a cruise when we were seated with her at lunch. I asked her what she did and she said she was a travel agent with 20 years experience. I remarked that she must have been on alot of cruises - imagine my surprise when she said this was her first cruise! I asked her how she could sell something she knew nothing about and her partner chimed in that she was very good at it. I thought to myself she was very good at lying to people!

As with any business, there are alot of tricks of the trade and a specialist will always be better trained and more aware than a generalist. If you have a problem with your feet, you go see a podiatrist because they're specifically trained in that area of expertise and know a great deal more than a general practitioner. This same principle is true in all areas of life.

Booking directly with the cruise line is fine if you don't have any problems. But if you have a problem, that's when a Cruise Specialist can be invaluable. Let them do the work so you don't have to - it'll make your life less stressful. Sorry - didn't mean for that to sound like a commercial for agents, but you'd be surprised what they can do for you that the cruise line won't.

Call back to the toll free number and ask again.. that has always worked that I know of.. just call back and eventually, probably the next time they will let you pay to upgrade. Sometimes you get someone on those toll free numbers who is lazy.

cruiseplanner is a TA so keep that in mind. There are many great PVPs at Carnival too.

Id just call back asking to upgrade again.. ask for a supervisor. I always get what I want... sometimes on the weekend I have had to change cabins on a sunday, and had to call again... CALL BACK and talk to someone else.

If you are booked past guest rate you are not booked Early Saver rate. Rates cannot be combined, so its one or the other. Each is a specific rate with its own set of rules.

Thanks everyone... Tried calling the toll free number today, after auto menu and 15 mins I got to talk to a real person. They said the same thing my planner at Carnival said, there was nothing that could be done. Great Customer no-service I say...... I just can't believe that that someone booking late would get a better price then someone that books and pay early. Ugghhhh If it was 20 or 30 dollars I wouldn't be so worried but the total for the rooms we booked is $360.00.

Anyone can get the price change or upgrade IF you are still in the period before final payment is due (usually about 90 days out for a 7-day cruise). But if you are past that you won't get anything (like an upgrade) unless you pay for the price difference - that is unless you booked through the "early savers" program with Carnival.

This is the last of the "best price guarantee" programs with the mainstream cruise lines as far as I know.

- that is unless you booked through the "early savers" program with Carnival.

Just wanted to clarify...the key is ES fare. It can be booked through Carnival, a Travel Agent, or online yourself.

All that being said...I'm not a fan of the ES fares, IMHO it limits your options. Also IF fares do go down many times the Seniors or Military will be lower than the ES fare. It's all 'supply and demand' that effects the cruise pricing: sometimes they go up, sometimes they go down depending on the number of bookings on a particular cruise.

With ES you can get any rate you are eligible for. If senior fares are lower, and someone in the cabin is 55 or older, and your booking is ES, you can get the senior fare. If I think there is a good chance I won't go on a cruise, then I won't book ES, but if I'm certain I'm going on the cruise I think ES is best.

With ES you can get any rate you are eligible for. If senior fares are lower, and someone in the cabin is 55 or older, and your booking is ES, you can get the senior fare. If I think there is a good chance I won't go on a cruise, then I won't book ES, but if I'm certain I'm going on the cruise I think ES is best.

Correct..in fact I used it yesterday. I filed the online form yesterday morning as the Sr rate on B6 dropped below my ES fare. They approved it by 7:00 pm. It now shows as a Sr rate category so not sure it could be used again as it's no longer a ES.

I never book ES I book something more flexible, but by final pmt date if I'm 100% sure about cruise I will change it to ES just in case it does drop in future. (As it did on the Breeze BC6)

Once ES it is supposed to always be ES. Your rate might be based on Senior, but it should still be an Early Saver booking.

Awyway, there are new fare codes coming in a week or so that should add confusion. Including Early Savers and Easy Savers - huh? Super Saver and Instant Saver - huh?

I thought so too, but the booking code was changed.

I looked very close at it and it's still guaranteed though through Note 2 to booking. Maybe the new changes you mention will use the 'note' system. Note 1 says I have to furnish proof of senior and past guest if requested. Note 2 says (paraphrased) if price drops I can request new lower fare.

I think you can argue anything with Carnival and often win, if you work at it and wear them down.

One cruise I booked ES then ended up paying the $50pp to switch to a different ship. Even though ES rates weren't available for the new sailing, my booking stayed ES. Would seem to be a potential way to exploit the system.

Does anyone know of a way to get a refund (credit) for a rate decrease. I booked our cruise in Oct. and paid 719.00 per person for interior, just checked and the rate has dropped to 629.00 per person. Thats 180.00 per room for 2 rooms........ ughhh I called my carnival planner and he said couldn't do anything. Is there something I could do to get the lower price?

Yes, I get these reductions all the time. Since you are past final payment date, you are probably eligible for cabin upgrades for the difference, or my choice----cabin credit which you can use to pay tips or bar tab, etc.

Have you called Carnival? Print out the price, (go to carnival.com) find the cruise, print it out and call Carnival. Did you book thru Carnival or a travel agency.

I have received three of these adjustments recently, one after final payment, two before final payment. They kept lowering the fare.

Correct..in fact I used it yesterday. I filed the online form yesterday morning as the Sr rate on B6 dropped below my ES fare. They approved it by 7:00 pm. It now shows as a Sr rate category so not sure it could be used again as it's no longer a ES.

I never book ES I book something more flexible, but by final pmt date if I'm 100% sure about cruise I will change it to ES just in case it does drop in future. (As it did on the Breeze BC6)

If you wait until final payment to change to ES it will be too late to change.

Final payment is 75 days before cruise and ES goes away 5 months before the cruise departs.

I think it depends on the length of the cruise (and I suspect if it's selling) as to es cut off. I do it all the time.

yes it does depend on the length of the cruise. The following are the rules from Carnivals website. As you mentioned sometimes they stop selling ES before the allotted times. I've never heard of them continuing to sell it after the allotted times but I don't check either.

Glad you found a way to get ES after the time frame mentioned.

EARLY SAVER OFFER
Cruise rates are in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to change at any time without prior notice. Government taxes and fees are additional for all guests. A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is required at the time of booking for all guests to secure confirmed accommodations. Fares are backed by a unique price protection policy. Full names are required for each guest. Offer is valid for new bookings only and is not combinable with any other discounted or promotional offer. Available on sailings 3 months prior to sail date for short cruises (5 days or less) and available on sailings 5 months prior to sail date for long cruises (6 days or longer). Savings are based on Fun Select rates and vary by sailings. Category restrictions and exclusions apply. No name changes are allowed. A $50 service fee will be assessed per person for ship and/or sail date changes made prior to the final payment due date. Cancellation penalties apply. Please refer to the Cruise Ticket Contract for additional terms and conditions. Ships' Registry: The Bahamas, Panama & Malta.